Folding table



K. H. WILSON FOLDING TABLE Feb. '10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheetl Filed Sept. 20, 1957 K. H. WILSON FOLDING TABLE 2 Sheets-Shet 2 w mfl 4 m Feb. 10, 1959' Filed Sept. 20, 1957 United t tes Patent FOLDING TABLE Kermit H. Wilson, Minneapolis, Minn.- Application September 20, 1957, Serial No. 685,140

3 "Claims. 01. 311-92 My invention relates generally to table structures, and more particularly to tables which are easily folded and are readily portable when so folded.

More specifically, my invention relates to an improved table which when unfolded to operative position will resist moving about and when folded is easily portable by casters, and is in the nature 'of an improvement upon devices of the type disclosed in my prior Patent 2,747,958.

Such table'structures include a pair of table top sections having adjacent ends pivotally connected for relative swinging movements from operative aligned generally horizontal positions to inoperative upstanding positions,

a pair of caster-equippedouter leg structures each pivotally connected to a different oneof the table top sections adjacent the free ends of said sections, a pair of rigid control arms each pivotally connected adjacent an upper end thereof to a difierent one of said tabletop sections intermediate-the pivotal connection of the outer legfstructure of that respective table topsection and the pivotal connection between said table top sections, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of said control arms for relative swingingmovements thereof, said control armsforming generally a variable V-shape with thepivotal connectionthereof underlying the pivotal connection between said top sections,1a pair of rigid control links eachpivotally connected toa longitudinally intermediate portion of a different one of said control arms andto a longitudinally intermediate portion of a different one ;ofsaid outer leg structures to maintain the outer leg structures in generally vertical positions at all positions of the table top sections, and a central supportingleg which extends between the floor and the pivotally connected adjacent ends of said table top sections whensaid sectionsare in their operative alignedgenerally horizontal positions.

Not only are such table structures relatively expensive to construct, but also extensive usage thereof has disclosed several objectionablefeaturs. For instance, when the tables are placed in operative position on an uneven floor (wherein the floor-underlying the'centertof the table is higher than that underlying the opposite ends thereof), the center of the table will obviously be raised the-full extent of this difierence. This is obviously due to the fact that, as above pointed out, the central legs extend between the floor and'the table sections. r

A further objectionable feature of tables of the class immediately above described resides in the tendency of the centralusupporting leg1to getYout of vertical disposition--this in spite of thecoil springs 39 of my Patent 2,747,958 which tend to bias the supporting legs toward a vertical supporting position. Obviously when these central supporting legs do get out of vertical disposition, due to kicking or the like, saggingof the table sections and other instability is imparted to thetable.

The primary object of-my invention is theiprovision of a table of the class immediately above described which is to a considerable degree self-leveling. To accomplish this objective, the central supporting leg is connected directly to the pivoted end of one of said control arms,

2,873,157 Patented Pet. 10, 195-9 whereby only a fractionv of thedifferenc'e between height of the floor underlyingthe center of the tableand the opposite ends thereof, is reflected in the height of the adjacent pivoted ends of the table sections.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for eliminating the possibility/of shifting of the central snpportingqleg from its normal vertically dis posed supporting positiom 1 i i A still further .objectof my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described which incorporatesa rninimumfof working parts, .and which is foolproof in its operation.

A still further object of, my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described which is,;relatively inexpensiveto manufacture, and which isrugged and durable inconstruction. t 1

The above :and still furtherobjects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings 1 1 Referring to themdrawings whereinlike characters in: dicate like parts throughout the several views: 1

Fig. l is aview in side elevation 1of1my novel structure; 1 1 1 1 Fig.2 is aview in .top plan of the structure of Fig. 1, someparts beingsbroken away; 1

Fig.- 3 isan enlarged view in side elevationof the structure shown in Fig. l, but showing a diiferent position of some of the parts :thereof;

Fl g. is an enlarged view in end elevation of the structure of Fig. 1; and

Fig; 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in sec,-

tion and partlyin sideelevation as seen substantially frorn as indicated 1 particularly in Fig. 14, angular in 1 cross: section,1both'forpurposes of imparting rigiditynto thettable top sections 2, 3 and to facilitate attachment thereto. of suitablesupporting st-ructure, hereinafter to be described. 1 Adjacent ends of the top sections},13aare pivotally connected as at 8 fo1 '1swinging1movementsfrom the opera,- tive aligned generally horizontal positions of Fig.1 to the upstanding-positions of .Fig. 3, wherein {said sections are in spaced generally parallel relationship. A pair of outer leg structures 9, 10am pivotally connected to :the underside of thetop sections 2, 3 respectively, ininwardly spaced relation to the free ends thereof, through the medium of theframe 5,. as;indicated respectivelyby the numerals 11 and 1 2. Attheinlowerends, the outer leg structures ;9-and 10 are provided with suitable casters 13. A pair of rigidcontrol arms114 and115 are pivotally connected at their upper ends one each to the underside of the top sections 2, 3 respectively (through the medium 1of 1 the frames: 5), as indicated respectively by the'reference characters 16 and17. It will ;be noted that the pivotal connections 16 17 are intermediate the pivotal connections 11,112 respectively of the outer legs 9 and ,10 and the, pivotal connection 8 of the table top sec.- tions12, 3'. Preferably, and assho wn particularly inEigss 2, and 4, thenrmld is bifurcated, theforks thereof being identihad, by the numerals 1 11 8 and 19, ,each of the lowerends of the forks 18 and 19 being provided with transversely extended horizontally aligned bearing sleeves 20 and 21 respectively. Also preferably the control arm 15 is bifurcated, each of the forks thereof being similarly identified by the numeral 22." Rigidly secured to the lower ends of the forks 22 of the control arm is a horizontally disposed trunnion 23 which is received between the aligned bearing sleeves 20, 21 for the common reception therethrough of a suitable pivot pin 24; It will be thus seen that the control arms 14, 15 form generally a variable V-shape with the pivotally connected lower ends 24 thereof underlying the pivotal connection 8 in all positions of the top sections 2, 3. v i i As shown, a rigid control link 25 is pivotally connected atone end to a longitudinally intermediate portion of the outer leg structure 9, as indicated'by the numeral 26, and has its opposite end connected, preferably adjustably, to a longitudinally intermediate portion of the control arm 14, as indicated by'the numeral 27. Similarly, a rigid control link 28 has one end pivotally secured to the intermediate portion of the outer leg structure 10 as'indicated by the numeral, 29 and has its opposite end similarly pivotally secured (preferably adjustably) to the longitudinally intermediate portion of the control arm 15, as indicated by the numeral 30. In this manner, the outer leg structures 9, 10 are maintained in generally verticalpositions at all positions of the table top sections An inverted generally U-shaped leg, identifiedin its entirety by the numeral 31, functions as a central floor engageable supporting element As shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, the leg 31 comprises a horizontally disposedtransversely extended connecting member 32 and laterally spaced generally parallel floor engaging leg members 33. vAs shown particularly in Fig. 5, the connecting member 32 of the leg 31 is rigidly connected, as by welding or the like, to the bearing sleeves 20, 21, as indicated respectively by the numerals 34, 35, at horizontally aligned points below the pivot pin 24. It is also important to note that the floor engaging leg members 33 on opposite ends of the horizontal connecting member 32 project outwardly from the pivot axis 24 in a plane generally tangential thereto. This is important in that not only are the leg members 33 in a vertical position when engaging the ground, as shown in Fig. 5, but also theyare out of engagement with the table top sec tion 2 when the sections are moved'to the upright inoperative position there shown, for storage and the like. I My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be understood that same is capable of modification without departure from the scope and :spirit of the appended claims.

' What I claim is:

1. In a portable folding table, a pair of table top sections having adjacent ends pivotally connected for relative swinging movements of the table top sections from operative aligned generally horizontal positions to inoperative upstanding positions, a pair of outer leg structures each pivotally connected to a different one of the table top sections intermediate the free end of its associated top section and the pivotal connection between said top sections with each outer leg structure being adjacent the free end of its associated top section, a pair of rigid control arms each pivotally connected adjacent an upper end thereof to a different one of said table top sections intermediate the pivotal connection of the outer leg structure of that respective tabletop section and the pivotal connection between said table top sections with each 'said upper end being pivotally connected to its associated top section adjacent to and in spaced relationship with the pivotal connection between said table top sections, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of said control arms for relative swinging movements, said control arms form- 4 ing generally a variable V-shape with the pivotally connected lower ends thereof generally underlying the pivotal connection between said top sections, the lower ends of said control arms having a floor engageable portion rigid with one thereof, that intermediate portion of said table top sections between the upper ends of said control arms being free and unsupported except for said pivotal conncction between the 'top sections and the inner ends of said table top sections being supported in operative position by said control arms and floor engageable portion.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said floor engageable portion comprises an intermediate leg member rigidly anchored at one end to said one control arm and depending therefrom to engage a supporting floor at the operative position of said table top sections, Whereby the positioning of said intermediate leg is positively obtained through its rigid connection with said one control arm.

3. In aportable folding table, a pair of table top sections having adjacent ends pivotally connected for relative swinging movements of the table top sections from operativealigned generally horizontal positions to inoperafive-upstanding positions, a pair of outer leg structures each pivotally connected to a different one of the table top sections intermediate the free end of its associated top section and the pivotal connection between said top sections with each outer leg structure being adjacent the free end of its associated top section, a pair of rigid control arms each pivotally connected adjacent an upper end thereof-to a different one of said table top sections intermediate the pivotal connection of the outer leg structure of that respective table top section and the pivotal connection between said table top sections with each said upper end being pivotally connected to its associated table top sectiona'djacent to and in spaced relationship with the pivotal connection between said table top sections, means pivotally connecting the lower ends of said control arms for relative swingingmovements, said control arms forming generally a variable V-shape with the pivotally connected lower ends thereof generally underlying the pivotal connection between said top sections a floor engageable intermediate leg member being rigidly secured at one-end to one of said control arms adjacent the pivotal connection of said one arm to the other thereof, that intermediate portion of said table top sections between the upper ends of said control arms being free and unsupported except for the pivotal connection between the top sections and the inner ends of said table top sections being supported in operative position by said intermediate leg member and said control arms, said intermediate leg member depending from its rigid connection to said one control arm to' engage a supporting floor at the operative position of said table top section, and a pair. of rigid' control links each pivotally connected to a longitudinally. intermediate portion of a different one of said control arms and to. a longitudinally intermediate portion of a different one of said outer leg structures to maintain the outer leg structures in generally verticalposition at all positions of the table top sections; whereby the positioning of said intermediate leg member is positively obtained through its rigid connection with said one-control arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 586,112- Beloin c July 13, 1897 2,730,417 J Mitchell JanQlO, 1956 2,747,958 :yWilson May 29, 1956 2,764,460 Nelson Sept. 25, 1956 2,766,089 "Nelson Oct. 9, 1956 

